Trump Endorses Appointed Sen. Darline Nordone in SC

President Donald Trump has endorsed newly appointed Sen. Darline Graham Nordone for a full Senate term, urging her to run in a special election to permanently succeed her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham. The endorsement, announced on social media on July 17, 2026, following a White House meeting the previous day, has dramatically reshaped the Republican primary contest in South Carolina.

Trump called Nordone a "WINNER all of her life" and offered his "Complete and Total Endorsement" should she decide to enter the race. He stated he had asked her to run for the good of the nation and to honor her brother's legacy. Nordone, 62, was sworn into the Senate on July 14 after being appointed by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster to complete her brother's term, which expires in January. She is the first woman to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate.

The president's move surprised many Republicans, as Nordone's appointment was widely seen as a caretaker role following Lindsey Graham's death on July 11 at age 71 from a tear in his aorta. According to individuals familiar with the governor's thinking, McMaster did not expect Nordone to seek the seat herself when he selected her....